Communication in all it's Fabulous Colours

On Thursday 11 June, the North Road nursing team enjoyed a fun and engaging team-building session with Amy, lead facilitator of the Dots communication framework.

As our nursing teams continue to work more closely together, the workshop was a great opportunity to better understand each other, recognise our different communication styles, and appreciate the strengths that everyone brings to the team.

Amy's warmth, humour and energy made for a memorable session as she explained why some people are naturally more direct, while others prefer to provide plenty of detail, think about the bigger picture, or focus on relationships. There were certainly a few "aha!" moments (and plenty of laughs) as we recognised ourselves and our colleagues in the different DOT colours.

As a very proud Red Dot, here's my version of the key takeaways, in true Red style:

• DOTs is a simple framework that helps us understand our own communication style and how to connect more effectively with others.

• Red Dots value bullet points, facts, honesty, directness, relevance ("What do you need from me?"), being in control, and getting to the point.

• Blue Dots appreciate time to process, supportive conversations, feeling heard, appreciation, and a non-confrontational approach.

• Purple Dots enjoy the big picture, asking questions, exploring ideas, and having the freedom to innovate without being micromanaged.

• Yellow Dots like organisation, punctuality, detailed information, and well-ordered workspaces.

The workshop was a fantastic reminder that there is no "right" communication style. Understanding our differences helps us communicate more effectively, strengthen our teamwork, and ultimately provide the best care for our patients.